In the world of gut health, probiotics often steal the spotlight. However, prebiotics play an equally crucial role, serving as the backbone for a thriving microbiome. This post covers the types of prebiotics, how they work with probiotics, and how Flore uses them in personalized formulas.
Understanding Prebiotics: The Unsung Heroes of Gut Health
Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that nourish the beneficial bacteria in our gut. They are found naturally in foods like garlic, onions, and bananas, and are integral to maintaining a balanced microbiome. Unlike probiotics, which introduce live bacteria into the gut, prebiotics create an environment where beneficial bacteria can flourish.
At Flore Inc., we recognize that not all prebiotics are created equal. Our 40+ prebiotics are selected from the research. This commitment to precision allows us to craft personalized formulations that cater to individual gut health needs.
The Different Types of Prebiotics
Prebiotics come in various forms, each offering unique benefits to gut health. Here are some common types:
- Fructooligosaccharides (FOS): Found in fruits and vegetables, FOS are known to enhance calcium absorption.
- Galactooligosaccharides (GOS): Present in dairy products, GOS promote the growth of bifidobacteria.
- Inulin: Commonly extracted from chicory root, inulin supports digestive health and boosts immunity.
- Resistant Starch: Found in legumes and grains, this prebiotic helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Flore Inc.'s expertise lies in the ability to integrate these prebiotics into custom formulations, ensuring maximum benefit for each unique microbiome.
Synbiotics: The Perfect Pairing of Prebiotics and Probiotics
Synbiotics refer to the combination of prebiotics and probiotics, working synergistically to enhance gut health. By pairing these two elements, synbiotics optimize the environment for probiotics to thrive, ensuring the microbiome is well-balanced and functional.
Flore's individualized approach to synbiotics draws on more than 40,000 personalized formulations. Our formulas are informed by real-world human data, not only laboratory studies.
The Flore 40+ Prebiotics Library
Our Flore 40+ prebiotics library is a culmination of years of research and innovation. Drawing from up to 68 curated strains and 40+ prebiotics, each formulation is tailored to the person. Flore's published research includes a 2024 open-label pilot study in autism (mSystems, PMC11097633). In that study of 296 enrolled participants, formulas built from each person's own gut data were associated with increased gut microbiome diversity and reduced GI symptom severity over three months. It was not a randomized controlled trial, and Flore is working toward one in autism.
Flore acquired Sun Genomics in 2026, adding ten years of paired microbiome and outcome data. Sequencing is done by CLIA-certified partner labs.
Challenging Common Assumptions with Real-World Data
Many assumptions about gut health rely on generalized data from in vitro or animal studies. Flore Inc. challenges these assumptions by using real-world human outcomes. Our clinical provider portal and our partnership with Evexia Diagnostics give clinicians access to personalized probiotics.
For instance, the belief that all individuals benefit from the same prebiotic is dispelled by our data, which shows the importance of personalized approaches. Our formulations are custom-manufactured in an FDA-registered facility in Joliet, IL, to high quality standards.
Conclusion: The Flore Inc. Advantage in Gut Health
Prebiotics are indeed half of the gut health equation, and their role cannot be overstated. At Flore, we pair prebiotics and probiotics to your own gut data.
FAQ
Q: What sets Flore Inc. apart in the field of gut health?
A: Flore builds personalized probiotic and prebiotic formulas from your own gut data, informed by real-world human data, with clinician oversight available through Flore Clinical.
Q: How does Flore Inc. ensure the quality of its formulations?
A: All of our custom-manufactured products are produced in an FDA-registered facility and are grounded in scientific research. Microbiome sequencing is done by CLIA-certified partner labs.
Q: Why are personalized prebiotics and probiotics important?
A: Personalized formulations are matched to each person's microbiome instead of an average one.
Q: Does Flore Inc. require a stool sample for analysis?
A: Yes. Flore builds your formula from a gut microbiome test, sequenced by a CLIA-certified partner lab, or from recent results you upload.
Q: What does Flore's published research show?
A: Flore's published research includes a 2024 open-label pilot study in autism (mSystems) and studies in IBS and gut discomfort. None of them was a randomized controlled trial.
Want a probiotic tuned to your ecosystem, not a CFU number?
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Not sure where to start with your gut?
Ask the Flore Microbiome Concierge — a guided, personalized walkthrough of testing, your results, and a formula matched to your goals.
Talk to the Concierge →Beta-glucans from fungi work the same way. Here are the best mushrooms for gut health.
For what the evidence actually supports — and what prebiotics cannot do — see our review of the benefits of prebiotics.